Andrew Keegan Reveals the Surprisingly Small Residual Checks He Still Gets From ’10 Things I Hate About You’
Andrew Keegan is getting honest about what it’s actually like to still earn money from his classic 1990s acting roles. The 10 Things I Hate About You star revealed that some of his residual payments are so small that they sometimes come out to just one cent.
Keegan shared the details during an appearance on The McBride Rewind podcast hosted by Josh McBride on May 7. The conversation focused on his career and whether he continues to receive meaningful payments from older projects that still air or stream today.
When asked if he still earns steady money from those roles, Keegan explained that the reality is not as glamorous as people might think. He said, “I think it’s really funny, cause I’ll get, different shows obviously, but I’ll get one cent checks.”
He also pointed out how strange the system can be when the cost of processing and mailing the check is higher than the payment itself. He joked that it sometimes costs more to send the check than the amount it is worth.
Keegan added that because the amounts are so small, he often does not even bother checking which project the payment is for. In his words, the one-cent checks are simply not worth focusing on.
Even though some payments are extremely low, Keegan said there are still occasional larger residual checks coming in. According to him, the most consistent earnings come from the 1999 teen film 10 Things I Hate About You, which continues to be the most recognizable project from his career.
In the same podcast interview, he explained that while many of his older TV appearances and film roles still generate small amounts of money, the romantic comedy remains the strongest source of ongoing residual income.
He said, “10 Things are probably the biggest checks still, but there are still residuals that come from all those shows.” He also noted that the payments can vary, sometimes reaching around $10 or even $80, but often staying on the lower end.
10 Things I Hate About You, released in 1999, became a major teen hit and remains popular today. The film starred Heath Ledger, Julia Stiles, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Keegan, who played Joey Donner, a confident and often comedic high school character.
Since the film continues to be shown on television and streaming platforms, it still generates residual payments for the cast. However, Keegan’s comments highlight how uneven those payments can be decades after a film’s release.
Outside of the movie, Keegan went on to appear in several TV shows including 7th Heaven, Full House, and House, along with films like The Broken Hearts Club.
He has spoken in the past about how he still gets recognized for his role in 10 Things I Hate About You more than any other project. In a previous interview with PEOPLE in 2024 at 90s Con, he reflected on his character Joey and said there was more depth to him than fans might expect, explaining that he saw a softer side in the role as well.
Now, years later, Keegan’s story about one-cent checks gives a clearer look at the long tail of Hollywood residuals, where even iconic roles can still result in surprisingly small payments.
Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!
